Dell Inspiron 11z

Dell Inspiron 11z Full Review

by Kevin O'Brien
The Inspiron 11z is a new netbook from Dell, hoping to change the way we think of the ultra-portable segment. Instead of using the long-favored Intel Atom processor, Dell decided to use the new ultra-low voltage Celeron 723 and the GS45 chipset. On paper the processor has more grunt, and when paired with X4500 integrated graphics, it has a huge advantage over Atom machines. In this review we take an in-depth look at the new 11z, to see if it is the netbook we have all been waiting for.
Our Dell Inspiron 11z Specifications:

• Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
• Intel Celeron 723 (1.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)
• Intel GS45 + ISH9M chipset
• 11.6" WXGA LED-backlit display at 1366x768
• Intel X4500 Integrated Graphics
• Dell 1397 ABG Wireless
• 2GB DDR2-800 SDRAM (1 Slot)
• 250GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
• 65W (19.5V x 3.34A) 100-240V AC Adapter
• 3-cell 28Wh 11.1v 2420mAh Lithium Ion battery
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 11.5" x 8.43" x 0.92-1.02"
• Weight: 3.05lbs
• 1-year limited warranty
• Price when purchased: $399 (Currently $449)

Build and Design
The Dell Inspiron 11z has a very simple design, with a plain black glossy screen cover, matte black chassis, and a silver painted palmrest. When closed the shell is nearly flat, with few items sticking out the bottom cover, making it easy to slide into a slipcase or backpack. Inside the 11z has no superfluous features, just the touchpad, keyboard, power button, and power indicator. There are no media buttons outside of function keys on the keyboard, and there aren't even activity lights or touchpad buttons. Dell really tried to take out unneeded or cluttering features to make this netbook as clean and easy to use as possible.


Build quality is average, with a few minor annoyances we noticed out of the box. With most computers you don't see chassis flaws right out of the box. What you do notice are cosmetic flaws, which even if they are minor are still depressing to see on a brand new machine. Our 11z came with a battery preinstalled that looked like it had been tumbled around in a box with other batteries up until the assembly stage. It was scuffed and marred all over, which was easily noticed since it has a fine matte finish. The rubber bumpers on the screen were also incorrectly installed. They are square pieces of rubber designed to fit in square holes, but installed crooked like diamonds. In the entire scheme of things these are minor problems that don't affect the durability of the notebook, but needless to say don't instill confidence in the end-user.
The chassis felt durable with strong internal support under most structures. The palmrest and keyboard showed very few signs of flex under strong pressure, which is a must for a good typing experience. Outside of the marred battery, the screen cover and chassis resisted scratching and other wear. The screen hinges felt durable, and kept the screen securely shut even when held in a vertical position.
Internally the design of the 11z is very friendly for users wanting to upgrade or replace components. At first you might notice there is no bottom access to components, with a solid panel covering the bottom. Instead Dell put all user-accessible components underneath the keyboard, which can be removed by three screws. With the keyboard off you have access to an open WWAN slot, the system memory, hard drive, and heatsink assembly. The WWAN slot was functional, recognizing the Verizon card borrowed from my D630; but it lacked antennas to allow the card to send and receive data.